Brockville Chamber Announces Jim Cooper as 2025 Business Person of the Year

Brockville – The Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the recipient of the 2025 Business Person of the Year Award to Jim Cooper at the 66th Awards of Excellence Gala.

Jim is known for his unwavering commitment and success at Canarm. He always puts the business and his team at the forefront of everything he does. On top of growing the Canadian and USA manufacturing business, he led the building of an international division of the company over the past 40 years. He continues to support the Brockville Community each and every day.

Jim Cooper has been a truly positive role model and mentor in the business community. He shows genuine support by showing up, whether it’s attending local events or making thoughtful introductions that help others grow their networks.

He’s always generous with his time, knowledge, and experience, and never hesitates to help anyone who reaches out. Jim leads by example; he doesn’t shy away from challenges and always looks for the silver lining. His mindset of seeing every situation as a chance to learn and grow is contagious. Whether you’re working alongside him or just spending time around him, his energy and perspective lift everyone up.

During the COVID years, Jim sourced personal protective equipment and imported them into Canada to supply not only the people of Canarm but numerous hospitals and medical facilities when PPE was scarce. He could also be seen in early mornings handing out masks at the local grocery stores in town during seniors’ hour.

Following COVID, Jim with his team travelled across the world to find new countries where Canarm could manufacture to protect themselves and their customers from tariffs. His goal was always to maintain and grow Canarm’s employment numbers even during uncertain times.

As the U.S. entered a new presidential campaign cycle, Jim once again set out, this time focusing more on America. He worked on finding and acquiring a manufacturing company that could be merged with their Canadian and USA Canarm facilities. His top priority was to protect our community and minimize any impact related to layoffs or downsizing.

Jim and his team have also helped expand Canarm into several new sectors, bringing more diversity to the business and supporting its continued growth.

Jim, with his business partner David Beatty, positively impacts the Brockville Community in many ways, for example, by involving themselves and their company in most charity events in the area and strongly believing that not every donation has to be public, just the ones that can help the Charity by attaching a Company name to it.

Jim also co-Chairs the biggest charity golf tournament in the area every year (The Friends of Palliative Care) with one of his mentors, Dave Publow, and he has dedicated several years of his time Chairing the BGH hospital board, leading through uncertain times in the hospital’s history, he now continues as a board member as past Chair. And in recent history, 2 years on the BGH Foundation board and 6 years on the YMCA board, finishing as Chair for 2 years.

We look forward to celebrating the Business Person of the Year with Jim Cooper at the Awards of Excellence Gala being held on September 18th, 2025 at the Brockville Country Club where we will also be announcing the recipients for: Business of The Year, Small Business of the Year, Community Excellence Award, the Tourism Award and the Ben TeKamp Award.

Seating is limited, and tickets must be purchased in advance online at www.brockvillechamber.com. For inquiries, please call 613-342-6553.

The Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of businesses, organizations, and individuals who make a positive difference in our community.

The Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce represents more than 300 members and has been the community’s business advocate since 1906. Our mission is to provide proactive leadership in advocacy and networking; we support and enhance businesses to build a strong economic community.